God always has a battle club

 Jeremiah 51:20-32

We have all heard or been told, “Payday is coming” or one will always reap what they have sown.  Why do we say such things and what is the origin of such statements?  If you look in Galatians 6:7-8, “Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.”  What if we understood fully that payday always comes, if not in this life that is just a mist, but in eternal life?  Would mankind be different, and I’m sure you are not going to like the answer, no? 

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has been God’s battle club, in fact, God calls him his servant, but he has become arrogant, full of pride and like many who God has blessed, they began to believe the press clippings and take credit in their heart.  Many a pastor and church blessed by God have become prideful and in their heart have foolishly said it was their act or actions and have not given glory to the King of glory, and God's hand is removed.  That is what has happened to the Babylon King.

But God always has a battle club, and it may be a man of God like Gideon, and do you remember the account in Judges 6?  For seven years God’s battle club was the Midianites against Israel, the people of God.  Why would God do such a harsh thing?  The answer is found in Judges 6:1, “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.”   Their club was not as large as Nebuchadnezzar’s or Cyrus’s, but it was sufficient for the job they had been called to do. 

I’m sure you have read the story of Gideon, while he is hiding in the wine press trashing grain the angel of the Lord comes to him and proclaims; “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”  Now, did we miss something, valor is courage, bravery, heroism, and such a man is fearless, but Gideon does not fit that, does he?  And what is Gideon’s reply to the angel of the Lord,  ^“And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” And this was the reply; “And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”  And we watched Gideon doing as God told him and God used Gideon to bring glory to Himself.  Often a man of God lets the Lord use him, but it is those press clippings we must watch out for!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice